Chaminade senior libero Waihilo Chartrand’s last homecoming perfectly fit her profile. The 2012 Hilo graduate has spent a lifetime digging volleyballs and smiling when her intense focus is turned off after matches.
Chaminade senior libero Waihilo Chartrand’s last homecoming perfectly fit her profile. The 2012 Hilo graduate has spent a lifetime digging volleyballs and smiling when her intense focus is turned off after matches.
She made her final appearance in her hometown against UH-Hilo a successful one. The Silverswords beat the Vulcans 25-20, 25-21, 25-18 on Monday night, and, to no one’s surprise, Chartrand covered the court like a blanket and compiled a match-high 15 digs.
At the UH-Hilo gym, the biggest roars came during pregame introductions for two of Hilo’s own Chartrand and Chaminade coach Kahala Kabalis Hoke, daughter of former Vul great Carla Carpenter-Kabalis.
In Kabalis Hoke’s four previous years, the Silverswords have increased their win total, including a 19-9 mark in 2015, the second-most victories in school history and the program’s first winning record since 2007.
During pregame introductions, Chartrand soaked in the applause from family and friends, including her old club coach, Carpenter-Kabalis, who works for Meals on Wheels and spends the rest of her time finding our homegrown players collegiate homes.
Chartrand’s road to her last homecoming took a bit of a delay due to injury in 2014, her junior season, and she took a medical redshirt last season.
At least, the communications major kept hitting the books hard. She has a 3.2 grade-point average and is set to graduate in December.
“It felt good to play at home with the support of my family and friends,” Chartrand said. “Being able to play at Chaminade was a great opportunity. It helped me grow as an individual and also made me appreciate being able to continue my education and still play the sport I love.”
Like most of the island’s undersized BIIF players, she was an outside hitter, despite standing just 5 feet 6, but also had sharp ball-handling skills. And because of that, she made a smooth transition to college.
Despite missing half her junior year, Chartrand still finished fourth on the team with 154 digs, averaging 3.04 digs per set. Earlier, she spent two years at Eastern Arizona College and placed third in the conference with 4.29 dps in 2013.
The triangle connection of Chartrand, her Chaminade, and club coach has always been a special one. And like her mom, Kabalis Hoke has been more than just a coach. Her Oahu club team has the same name as her mom’s: HI Intensity.
“I am very thankful for Kahala and all she does for our team,” Chartrand said. “I was fortunate enough to have a coach who is supportive on and off the court. As a player, it’s a good feeling to know that I have a coach who believes in us and sees everyone’s full potential.”
After she graduates, Chartrand hopes to work in the airlines industry. It’s an old saying but the sky is the limit for Chartrand, who has the aloha spirit part covered quite well.